2 'Strong Buy' Biotech Stocks With 120% or More Upside Potential
The 26-year-old man charged in last week’s killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Tuesday, where he was denied bail and his lawyer said he'd fight extradition to New York City, where the attack happened. Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested Monday in last Wednesday's attack on Brian Thompson after they say a worker at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. When arrested, Mangione had on him a gun that investigators believe was used in the attack and writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. As Mangione arrived at the courthouse Tuesday, he struggled with officers and shouted something that was partly unintelligible but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” Mangione is being held on Pennsylvania charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here are some of the latest developments: Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. Judge David Consiglio denied bail to Mangione, whose attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court that his client did not agree to extradition and wants a hearing on the matter. Blair County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney Peter Weeks said that although Mangione's fighting extradition will create “extra hoops” for law enforcement to jump through, it won’t be a substantial barrier to sending him to New York. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday that Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” she said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, which was based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. The defendant appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown and may have been inspired by “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski, whom he called a “political revolutionary,” the document said. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Eleven minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park, according to police. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack, police said. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene, Matt O'Brien, Sean Murphy and Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.
Unions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachersNokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 10.12.2024
1FUEL and Toncoin are garnering significant market attention and winning over investors seeking more stability than TRON can offer right now. While TRON has rallied to record highs, there are signs it’s moving into overbought territory. 1FUEL meanwhile continues to win over TRON whales impressed by its groundbreaking one-click, cross-transaction functionality. With analysts projecting returns of more than 500% during the presale, read on for more. Is Toncoin the best cryptocurrency to buy now? Toncoin is emerging as one of the winners of the bull market ignited by President Trump’s election win in November. It’s leveraged the surge of investor interest in digital assets into a price rally, fuelled by sustained levels of investor demand. November was a good month for Toncoin despite challenges from other altcoins. On the back of that wave it rallied to a high of $7.08 on 04 December. Toncoin’s overall trajectory suggests that the uptrend will continue deeper into the month. So, is it the best cryptocurrency to buy now? Analysts are positive on Toncoin’s potential, with Coincheckup calling for a $245.88% increase over the next three months. That would take the rally well into 2025. Analysts say over six months the outlook is also very positive, with a 180.48% growth on the cards. Toncoin’s user base has also expanded, positioning it well for future growth. According to some estimates, the number of TON holders has spiked by 90% in the last 12 months to around 90 million users. Giving Toncoin a run for its money is 1FUEL, a breakout contender for the title of best cryptocurrency to buy now. It has earned significant interest and record levels of investment as crypto whales seek new opportunities. Thanks to its unique one-click, cross-chain transactions functionality, 1FUEL can offer something that no other coin can match; a pathway to broader blockchain adoption. What’s next for TRON? The number 11 coin right now, TRON’s performance this bull run has been raising eyebrows. It has successfully courted crypto whales with a vertical price rally that has resulted in 57.2% gains in the last seven days. Its current price of $0.32 has pulled back from the $0.45 we saw on 03 December. What’s notable about that is the 100x surge that got TRON to that point. TRON founder Justin Sun is a core protagonist in the rally to an all-time high. He invested $30 million in Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial and was subsequently appointed as an advisor. This strategic move is part of a public bid to move closer to Trump after the President-elect indicated his intention to champion digital assets during his second term. Despite this, the price rally could stall – especially given Sun has been charged by the SEC . He is accused of participating in extensive wash trading to artificially inflate the price of TRON and of taking millions of dollars of profit from unregistered sales. Just as his move closer to World Liberty Financial has boosted TRON, subsequent behaviour or fall out from the SEC charges could cause price instability. While high levels of volatility pose questions for investors, the breakout privacy-focused cryptocurrency 1FUEL continues to win over whales with its red hot presale. 1FUEL is capturing investor interest with its innovative take to democratising digital assets 1FUEL’s unique one-click, cross chain transaction functionality is a game changer for blockchain technologies. By removing the traditional complexities associated with managing digital assets, 1FUEL is successfully opening up crypto to an entire new userbase which is currently vastly underserved. Its digital wallet is user-friendly and accessible, calling for nothing more complex than the user to choose their preferred coin to trade or transact. With smart AI use, 1FUEL then handles all of the complexities of the cross-chain transaction including network fees and exchange rates. This dramatically simplifies how users manage their cryptocurrency – making it more accessible, more useful and more relevant to more people than ever before. Another factor fuelling the push towards 1FUEL is its privacy-focused credentials. The built in privacy mixer, disposable digital wallet and user-friendly cold storage ensure that users can maintain high levels of security, even as accessing the blockchain becomes easier. 1FUEL’s credentials set it apart as one to watch in 2025 1FUEL’s red hot presale has already attracted record levels of investment. Investors have been won over by the unique premise and incredible use cases. With forecasts of at least 500% returns during the presale and staking rewards of up to 30% APR, don’t miss out. Take part in the presale now and secure your place in the future of cryptocurrency. Presale: https://www.1fuel.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/Portal_1Fuel X: https://x.com/1fuel_?s=21 Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
IT exports rise by 33pc to $1.53bn in July-Nov KARACHI: Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) exports increased by 34 per cent to $1.53 billion in the five months of the current fiscal year, data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed on Tuesday. The country recorded IT exports of $324 million in November, showing a 24 per cent increase compared with the same month last year, but a 2.0 per cent decrease from the previous month. According to an analyst at Topline Securities, monthly IT exports in November are higher than the last 12-month average of $295 million. This is the 14th consecutive month of YoY IT export growth, starting from October 2023. The analyst in a report attributed the year-on-year increase to several factors: the IT export companies growing client base globally, especially in the GCC region; relaxation in the permissible retention limit by the State Bank of Pakistan, increasing it from 35 per cent to 50 per cent in the Exporters’ Specialised Foreign Currency Accounts; and stability in the local currency, encouraging IT exporters to bring a higher portion of profits back to Pakistan. A MoM decline in IT exports is due to a lower number of working days in November (21 days), compared with October (23 days). Export proceeds per day were recorded at $15.4 million for November versus $14.3 million in the previous month. According to a Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) survey, 62 per cent of IT companies are maintaining specialised foreign currency accounts.A major development in FY25 was the SBP adding a new category of equity investment abroad (EIA), specifically for export-oriented IT companies. IT exporters can now acquire interest (shareholding) in entities abroad utilising up to 50 per cent proceeds from specialised foreign currency accounts. This development will further boost the confidence of IT exporters to remit proceeds back to Pakistan. Net IT exports (exports-imports) displayed the monthly number of $287 million and increased by 27 per cent YoY in November. These net IT exports numbers are also higher than the last 12-month average of $261 million. “We believe, the IT sector will continue its growth trajectory and momentum with a likely growth of 10-15 per cent for FY25 to $3.5-3.7 billion,” the analyst said.The 26-year-old man charged in last week’s killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Tuesday, where he was denied bail and his lawyer said he'd fight extradition to New York City, where the attack happened. Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested Monday in last Wednesday's attack on Brian Thompson after they say a worker at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. When arrested, Mangione had on him a gun that investigators believe was used in the attack and writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. As Mangione arrived at the courthouse Tuesday, he struggled with officers and shouted something that was partly unintelligible but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” Mangione is being held on Pennsylvania charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here are some of the latest developments: Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. Judge David Consiglio denied bail to Mangione, whose attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court that his client did not agree to extradition and wants a hearing on the matter. Blair County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney Peter Weeks said that although Mangione's fighting extradition will create “extra hoops” for law enforcement to jump through, it won’t be a substantial barrier to sending him to New York. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday that Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” she said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, which was based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. The defendant appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown and may have been inspired by “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski, whom he called a “political revolutionary,” the document said. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Eleven minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park, according to police. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack, police said. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene, Matt O'Brien, Sean Murphy and Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) today announced plans to move to The Bell (225 West Randolph Street), a newly renovated Chicago landmark, from its current office at Two North Lasalle Street in May 2025. The new location, recently rebranded The Bell in a nod to its origins as the Illinois Bell Building, opened in 1966 and was designated a Chicago landmark in 2021. The firm will occupy floors 27 through 29 of the historic tower. Attorneys and staff will enjoy new offices designed to maximize natural light, featuring sit-stand desks in each office and workstation, and interactive technologies in conference rooms and collaborative workspaces. The firm will also have access to three floors of building amenities. CBRE represented NGE in the lease negotiations with The Onni Group, the building owner. Clune Construction Company is the general contractor for the office space construction, with Gensler heading the effort to design the new space. Novo Sustainability is advising the firm on sustainability and environmental impact. "As one of the largest single-office law firms in the country, we believe in downtown Chicago—in its diversity, its history, and the community we've been proud to be a part of for nearly 40 years," said Bobby Gerber, Managing Partner of NGE. "Our move to this historic building underscores our commitment to the city, and we look forward to calling it our home for many years to come." “NGE’s first relocation in over 30 years presented a significant opportunity to deliver new office space that excites and energizes the firm’s clients, attorneys and staff,” added Todd Lippman, Vice Chairman, CBRE. “NGE partnered with CBRE to outline the detailed priorities for their new space and undertook a careful selection process to identify the location in line with NGE's current needs and plans for future growth. Ultimately, The Bell's best-in-class amenities and optimal location in the heart of Chicago align with NGE's goal of providing premium office space in an innovative work setting.” A Positive Impact on Chicago In developing their new space, NGE ensured it was making a positive impact on Chicago. NGE required contractors to demonstrate how they give back to the city and actively foster a diverse workforce. “During the preconstruction phase, NGE COO Sonia Menon challenged us to move beyond conventional hiring practices, encouraging meaningful conversations with trade partners about their commitments to social, environmental, and governance principles,” said Andy Holub, Senior Vice President, Clune Construction Company. “This approach enabled us to build a diverse bidders list and prioritize companies based on partnerships with minority and women owned business enterprises, charitable initiatives, and efforts to provide a diverse on-site workforce. These discussions often served as tiebreakers in the selection process, rewarding trade partners whose values aligned with our teams. With the support of Gensler, CBRE, and NGE, we demonstrated the power of collaboration in achieving both project success and societal impact. Inspired by this process, we plan to incorporate these practices into future projects, making it easier to identify trade partners who share our core values while advancing equity, sustainability, and community engagement in the industry.” Championing a Greener Future NGE has long prioritized sustainability as part of its commitment to being a responsible organization in Chicago and around the world. This commitment was reaffirmed throughout the new office buildout and in the firm’s purchasing decisions. The firm hopes to achieve the highest possible LEED certification and Zero Carbon certification for its new space. In 2023, NGE was one of four firms globally to receive a top rating from the All Legal Industry Sustainability Standard assessment. "At Neal Gerber Eisenberg, sustainability is not just a goal—it is a fundamental value that influences every decision we make," said Sonia Menon, Chief Operating Officer for NGE and Chair of the firm’s Sustainability Committee. "Our new office at The Bell is a testament to this commitment. From implementing energy-efficient systems to reusing existing furniture and selecting zero-carbon-based materials, every aspect of our new space is designed to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and promote a healthier, more sustainable future. We are proud to set new standards for sustainability in the legal industry and look forward to expanding these initiatives at The Bell." NGE’s new office will feature materials and furniture from renowned sustainable brands such as Haworth, Andreu World, and Kielhauer, chosen for their focus on sustainability, innovative design, and lower environmental impact. The Bell’s redevelopment includes a state-of-the-art Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC system for enhanced energy efficiency and superior climate control. Combined with double-paned argon-gas windows, this significantly reduces energy consumption. Additionally, Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) units with energy recovery wheels ensure a continuous supply of fresh air while minimizing energy loss. “NGE’s pursuit of LEED Platinum Certification and Zero Carbon Certification underscores their dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability. With a strong focus on energy and water efficiency, as well as embodied carbon reduction through materials reuse and the prioritization of locally sourced products, this project will set a new standard for all professional services firms—and especially the legal industry,” said Laci Hoskins, founder and principal, Novo Sustainability. “Achieving these milestone certifications will inspire other organizations by proving what is possible when a firm truly integrates sustainable practices throughout the design, construction, and operations of its office.” Leading-Edge Design for Enhanced Collaboration The new office will promote in-person teamwork in the hybrid work era. Each corner of the new space will be devoted to a collaborative workspace. Conference rooms will feature the latest audiovisual technologies and tablets for easy booking. All individual offices will be a single size, with glass-fronted walls that let in natural light throughout the space—part of the firm's commitment to the “Right to Light”. “NGE’s new office at the top of The Bell is a milestone in Chicago law firm design. In addition to the project’s Net Zero and LEED Platinum objectives, the design prioritizes post-pandemic design principles: air, light and openness. Great care has been taken to achieve egalitarian daylight access, vertical connection of the firm’s collegial culture across three floors and optimization of spatial volumes that imbue a sense of hospitality and community engagement. This project sets a new standard for what balancing professional, timeless, forward-thinking spaces with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship can look like,” said Jim Prendergast, Principal, Gensler. Workplace as a Destination with Best-In-Class Amenities The Bell is set to redefine the workplace experience, offering a range of top-tier amenities designed to enhance the work-life balance of its tenants. These include a 10,500 square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center complete with wellness areas and a variety of fitness options to suit every preference. The building also boasts a 6,000-square-foot conference center with multi-purpose rooms, conference rooms, and pre-function space, accommodating up to 210 people. The Bell's expansive tenant lounges are designed for relaxation and socializing, with amenities like a library bar, pickleball courts, golf simulator, F1 simulators, cozy fireplaces, indoor/outdoor terraces, and vibrant social lounges. The 10,000 square-foot rooftop terrace features 360° views, private dining spaces, a Zen garden, firepits, and bookable cabanas. “We are excited to bring The Bell back to life. Re-imagining an iconic building in the heart of downtown Chicago is an exciting opportunity,” said Greg Wilks, Senior Vice President, Onni Group. “We sought to deliver a modern workplace that meets the changing needs of our tenants and their employees. NGE’s vision for their new home aligned perfectly with our plans. We look forward to welcoming NGE to take advantage of all The Bell has to offer.” About NGE Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a leading law firm dedicated to handling sophisticated matters for entrepreneurs, public companies, and private businesses and their owners. More than one-third of the lawyers at Neal Gerber Eisenberg are recognized in the most recent Best Lawyers in America listing and represent scores of the Fortune 100 and many of the best-known private companies. The firm is also a trusted advisor to startups, growth companies and entrepreneurs. The firm has built over thirty years of trusted partnerships with clients that span the globe, and we meet each unique client need with the same personalized service and collaboration that provide the most practical solutions for every matter. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210896055/en/ CONTACT: John Albrighton Marketing and Business Development Director p: (312) 269-8065 e:jalbrighton@nge.com KEYWORD: ILLINOIS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: LEGAL HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS STATE/LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOURCE: Neal Gerber Eisenberg Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/10/2024 04:17 PM/DISC: 12/10/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210896055/en Copyright Business Wire 2024.PALISADES TAHOE SKI RESORT — At midnight, a slender moon hangs above the snowy Sierra Nevada, casting only a faint glow on a sheer cliff and the dark canyon below. But snowcat operator “Bandit” Ferrante has laser-guided vision, measuring snow depth 150 feet ahead and to each side to sculpt the slopes with precision. By dawn, crowds will start arriving to ski and ride the weekend’s fresh powder. “These advancements are changing the way we do things,” said Ferrante, 36, who drives a new $400,000 German-made PistenBully rig with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to prepare the trails. “I see exactly where we’re going, and what’s going on.” After two winters of heavy snow, the snowfall so far this winter has been sporadic. While Mother Nature is always fickle, climate change could create less reliable snow, spelling hardship for the businesses and mountain communities that depend on storms for their economic survival. So resorts seek to make and protect each precious flake. Big corporations running Palisades, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Mammoth Mountain have made major investments, worth many millions of dollars, in what’s dubbed “snow management.” With some daily lift tickets exceeding $250, the resorts seek to deliver a dependable high-end experience. Initially just farm tractors on tracks, snowcats have evolved into machines of design, detailed craftsmanship and computer-driven tools. Inside the warmth of his cab, with a chatty podcast for company, Ferrante monitors a computer screen with color-coded snow depths, guiding him on where to push and pull snow for the best coverage. Its SNOWsat LiDAR remote sensing technology uses laser pulses to measure snow depth. With accuracy to within an inch, it can construct perfect snowboard half-pipes or World Cup ski race terrain. The joystick that directs the 12-ton machine is smooth, responsive and comfortable to grasp. The blade shifts in 17 different directions, with wings to shovel the snow. With a sensor that detects incline, the powerful tiller automatically rises and falls when routes get steep. It’s turned a once lonely and tedious task into a skill-driven profession. “You keep learning new things,” said Ferrante, a South Lake Tahoe native with nearly 20 years of resort experience. A tidy tattoo — a snowcat control stick — adorns his neck. At competitive “Groomer Games” every spring, representatives of all California ski resorts gather to test their expertise by pushing a golf ball through a maze. Innovations in snow-making tools — such as the $40,000 Super PoleCat — perform alchemy, mixing massive drafts of water, air and electricity to cover miles of runs. Some have built-in automated weather stations. Snowcats maximize the efficiency of snowmaking. Some are simple utility vehicles, hauling things around the mountain. Others are “trooper carriers,” moving ski patrollers. “Dig rigs” have backhoes to excavate buried equipment. A few have forks, for installing fences and seats on race days. The smallest cats are adroit at digging out chairlifts and clearing sidewalks. “You use the right tool for the right job,” said Brendan Gibbons, director of snow surface at Palisades Tahoe. The most prized snowcats at Palisades are the new LiDAR-equipped machines. They are leading the fleets that are racing across the resort this weekend to groom freshly fallen powder, sending information by cell signal to the less well-equipped machines. Until recently, snowcats relied on GPS to measure snow depth; the technology knows how high the machine is sitting above the ground. But this tool offers a limited view of what’s directly under the rig and front blade, not what lies ahead. “It was a great start to this technology, but it only allowed us to see how deep the snow is where we’ve been, and where we are,” said Gibbons. “LIDAR shows us what the snow is before we get to it.” LiDAR also measures the volume of piles of manmade snow, helping guide its use. The tool is already in use in research and government agencies to study snow from the air. It helps water districts measure future water reserves. It can identify avalanche danger. It works by sending out up to 200,000 laser pulses per second. Then it measures the time of flight — how long it takes the laser to hit the snow and bounce back to the instrument. It calculates distance by using the known speed of light and the time it takes the laser to travel. In the summer, LiDAR builds a digital model of the bare terrain. In the winter, Bandit and other “night crawlers” creep along the mountain’s cold contours, taking snow measurements. Managers study the freshly updated maps on their phones, then strategize a nighttime plan based on weather, wind, melting and skier traffic. After a long day of wear and tear, LiDAR helps “clean up the holes, remove the moguls and return the slope back to a nice, perfect skiing surface,” said Brian Demarest, SNOWsat manager for Kassbohrer All Terrain Vehicles in Reno, which sells PistenBully (“trail worker,” loosely translated, in German). Snowcats no longer lurch and rock. An eight-hour shift “is like driving to L.A.,” said Gibbons. The snowcat’s taco-shaped blade can turn in 17 different directions. On each side of the blade is a wing that shoves the snow left or right. Its weight compresses the snow as it rolls, squeezing out dangerous air pockets and creating a more firm surface. Each track works independently, so the rig can pivot. Cleats add traction. In the back is a spinning barrel with teeth, which chews up the snow. The barrel’s spin speed is adjustable, influencing how much the flakes heat up and bind to each other. A comb, also adjustable, drags behind to deposit rows of perfect corduroy. Grooming is still dangerous, with peril on slippery and avalanche-prone slopes. One recent winter, when winds hit 192 mph gusts, machines skidded on ice. Ferrante arrives at Palisades in mid-afternoon from his home in Garnerville, Nevada, to get his assignment for the night’s “swing shift.” When he’s done, he’ll hand it off to a colleague on the graveyard shift that grooms until the lifts open. By 5 a.m., he’s in bed. “I don’t get lonely,” said Ferrante, who drinks a thermos of black tea to stay alert. Food can be heated by the exhaust pipe. Throughout the long night hours, operators coordinate with each other, traveling together when there’s avalanche danger. A winch can help secure a machine, allowing it to work on steep slopes. Ferrante sees coyotes, deer, porcupines, and occasional bear. One crew saw migrating ducks fall from the sky, lost in a storm. His crew started the season with “track packing” to compress November’s snow. Now, with the arrival of a new storm, he’ll push snow into rigid “wind rows,” like fences, to catch blowing drifts; later teams will smooth them out. Post-storm priorities are roads, then ramps, then runs. His discipline, largely unrecognized by resort visitors, is building the foundation for a whole season of sport. “There is a ‘skill ceiling’ that’s infinite,” said Ferrante. “You’re never going to be the very best. You’re never going to figure it all out.”With sustainable practices and cutting-edge snowmaking technology, Canada's ski industry ensures the future of winter recreation while supporting communities nationwide. TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winter sports enthusiasts across Canada eagerly anticipate the first snowfall, signaling the start of a season filled with fresh air and fun in a snowy wonderland. However, a changing climate is making those first flakes increasingly unpredictable, challenging an industry that supports communities and promotes healthy lifestyles nationwide. In response, the Canadian Ski Council has launched snowissnow.ca , a resource showcasing the industry's commitment to sustainability and innovation. The initiative provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Canada's ski areas are adapting to ensure snowy days remain a hallmark of winter for generations to come. Why is it Important for Canadians to Know that Snow is Snow? "Responsibility and resilience are at the heart of the ski industry's investment in snowmaking,” says Paul Pinchbeck, President and CEO of the Canadian Ski Council. Snowmaking is essential for ski operations across Canada, providing consistent snow coverage that enhances the experience for recreational skiers. "It ensures visitors can enjoy the slopes even during fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather while supporting the communities that rely on winter tourism,” Pinchbeck adds. Snowmaking also plays a vital role in kickstarting the winter season, offering early access to slopes before natural snowfall is dependable. This early-season reliability not only attracts visitors eager to embrace winter activities but also supports competitive athletes by providing critical training opportunities. As a foundation of operations, snowmaking bolsters the resilience of Canada's ski industry and its capacity to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. Snowfall Trends and the Need for Adaptation Snowfall data from Environment Canada reveals that winter in Canada is changing. While snow cover has decreased in regions like the Pacific Coast and the Rockies, areas in southern Canada and central British Columbia have seen an increase in days with snow cover. Meanwhile, the Weather Network's 2024/2025 Winter Forecast predicts near- to above-normal precipitation across most of Canada, ensuring an active winter ahead. The Economic and Health Impacts of Snowmaking Ski areas are at the heart of many communities, supporting the economy through job creation and attracting millions of visitors annually. For example, Canada's ski areas welcome 17.9 million skier visits annually, including 2.4 million active skiers and riders, and generate $4.4 billion in spending. Beyond economics, skiing and snowboarding deliver significant health benefits. Outdoor activity improves cardiovascular health, balance, strength, and coordination while supporting mental well-being. Studies show that skiers may be at a lower risk of anxiety disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and benefit from natural boosts to sleep, metabolism, and immune function. Snowmaking: A Modern, Sustainable Solution The stakes are high, and the industry is taking a proactive approach to adapting to the many challenges it faces. Snowmaking technology has evolved dramatically, becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly. The snowissnow.ca resource seeks to provide insights into the snowmaking process while debunking myths about made snow. Key facts about snowmaking: About the Canadian Ski Council The Canadian Ski Council is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting skiing and snowboarding across Canada. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, the Council works to make winter sports accessible to all Canadians, fostering a love for the outdoors and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles. Visit www.skicanada.org for more information or follow the Canadian Ski Council on social media: X: @CDNSKICOUNCIL | Instagram: goskiinggosnowboarding | Facebook: GoSkiingGoSnowboarding | LinkedIn: canadian-ski-council | YouTube: CanSkiCouncil #SkiCanada #GoSkiingGoSnowboarding #SnowStartKidzPass #CanadianLiftPass #Winter20242025 MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Booth Communications & Media Liaison Canadian Ski Council [email protected] 416.427.1588
Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in AtriCure, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ATRC – Free Report ) by 38.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,053 shares of the medical device company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,880 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in AtriCure were worth $394,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Hood River Capital Management LLC bought a new position in AtriCure in the 2nd quarter valued at $40,422,000. First Light Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AtriCure by 42.1% in the 2nd quarter. First Light Asset Management LLC now owns 1,964,703 shares of the medical device company’s stock worth $44,736,000 after buying an additional 581,843 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in AtriCure by 132.5% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 952,765 shares of the medical device company’s stock valued at $21,694,000 after buying an additional 543,023 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in AtriCure by 151.6% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 229,130 shares of the medical device company’s stock worth $6,425,000 after buying an additional 138,046 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its position in AtriCure by 31.5% in the third quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 500,649 shares of the medical device company’s stock worth $14,038,000 after acquiring an additional 119,929 shares during the period. 99.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of AtriCure from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on AtriCure from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group upped their price target on AtriCure from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on AtriCure from $30.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of AtriCure from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $41.00. AtriCure Stock Performance Shares of ATRC opened at $34.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a current ratio of 3.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -41.27 and a beta of 1.40. AtriCure, Inc. has a 52-week low of $18.94 and a 52-week high of $39.04. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $32.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.85. AtriCure ( NASDAQ:ATRC – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The medical device company reported ($0.17) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.02. AtriCure had a negative net margin of 8.70% and a negative return on equity of 8.12%. The company had revenue of $115.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $112.23 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.20) earnings per share. AtriCure’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that AtriCure, Inc. will post -0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. About AtriCure ( Free Report ) AtriCure, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells devices for surgical ablation of cardiac tissue, exclusion of the left atrial appendage, and temporarily blocking pain by ablating peripheral nerves to medical centers in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers Isolator Synergy Clamps, single-use disposable radio frequency products; multifunctional pens and linear ablation devices, such as the MAX Pen device that enables surgeons to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias, perform temporary cardiac pacing, sensing, and stimulation, and ablate cardiac tissue with the same device; and the Coolrail device, which enables users to make longer linear lines of ablation. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ATRC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AtriCure, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ATRC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for AtriCure Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AtriCure and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson remains at large, but more clues are turning up, including the contents of a backpack believed to have belonged to the shooter. on Saturday that the backpack, which was found in Central Park, contained a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money. But it didn't contain a gun. The report was later backed by . The New York Police Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Police divers searched for a gun in a Central Park lake Saturday, and the NYPD has said the weapon that the shooter used to kill Thompson . Images of the gunman showed him wearing a , drawing immediate attention as a potential clue to his identity. that it was in fact made by Peak Design, and the police examined it at a forensic lab in Queens. The presence of Monopoly money raised questions that it could be another cryptic message, after bullet casings found at the scene of the crime had the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" written on them, an apparent reference to practices in the insurance industry. Former Washington, D.C., homicide detective Ted Williams that the Monopoly money is the "killer playing games with the authorities. All part of a cat and mouse game." He added, "This killer knew they would more likely than not find the backpack, and he is leaving breadcrumbs to let [the] authorities know that he is in control, not them." On social media, that the Monopoly money could have been more of a political message, pointing out that the . The backpack adds to the growing list of evidence that's been collected so far, including images of the suspect from security cameras, a cellphone found along the escape route as well as a water bottle and a wrapper for a protein bar, both of which have been tested for DNA. A previous version of this article misstated one of the words written on the bullet casings. This story was originally featured on‘Tis the season for trend forecasting. As 2024 draws to a close, payments firms are lobbing out predictions for what 2025 has in store for biometric authentication, digital identity, contactless payments, passkeys, wallets and more. A new blog showcasing ’s ten top payments trends for 2025 and beyond describes a “virtuous circle” of tech innovation and deployment that is ushering more and more people into the digital economy every day, driving demand for trust in online transactions. “Technologies are coalescing faster than ever, refining capabilities, generating new use cases and even creating new business models,” says the by Vicki Hyman, director of global communications at Mastercard. Tokenization, and digital wallets all figure into the larger picture of what the emerging digital economy will look like in the near future. Hogging the spotlight as usual is AI. Specifically, using AI to fight AI – which is fast becoming both a trend and a trope among cybersecurity and fraud protection providers. Noting how generative AI and deepfakes are enabling to the tune of a projected $10 trillion in 2025, Hyman says “this weapon is also a tool, as companies are training AI models to predict and neutralize threats in real time.” Coming in at number four on Mastercard’s list is “digital identity on demand.” Hyman nods at biometrics, passkeys and machine learning as key drivers of a still-young global . “A trusted identity is the foundation of the digital economy, enabling people to interact how, where and when they want with complete confidence. , machine learning and identity insights are already supercharging authentication throughout a customer’s journey.” Use cases in government services, and education show transformative potential. In noting how will accelerate in 2025, Hyman makes explicit the strong link between passkey technology and biometrics, defining passkeys as “passwordless authentication most often powered by users’ biometrics.” Passkeys share the encryption stage with tokenization, blockchain and . “The tokenization of assets through blockchain technology can digitize and optimize any economic activity,” the post notes. Blockchain technology enables this. “In 2025, bet on blockchain technology to enhance speed, security and efficiency,” Mastercard says. But the product with the most curb appeal is the digital wallet, a key driver of . “In developing and emerging markets, digital wallets are increasingly playing the role of a bank account and capturing the large majority of consumers and businesses.” “ will continue to evolve into comprehensive platforms, integrating payments, identity, loyalty and even healthcare – an essential way for people to navigate their daily lives. The leaders will be those who create intuitive, interoperable ecosystems.” Other trends cover collaboration and interoperability, contactless and real-time payments, and the increasing accessibility of large tech toolkits for small businesses. One notable trend at the end of 2024 is firms predicting that AI will be a trend for 2025. Deloitte’s forecast on trends shaping the believes “AI-driven fraud models will expand to better consider consumers’ digital identity and personalized spend insights to combat the growing complexity of fraud.” The first paragraph gives us the seemingly ubiquitous nugget: “AI has prominent use cases on both sides of the fraud landscape: by fraudsters and AI-driven defense (detection and prevention) from financial institutions.” “GenAI advancements enable financial institutions to both improve fraud detection and limit false positives, which allows for a smooth customer experience and minimizes lost payments.” As to digital identity, “the integrity and accuracy of each customer’s digital identity is paramount to and prevention improvement.” Not to be left out of the Divine Council of banking trends, Visa says it is “moving towards passkeys” as the landscape of payments – and fraud – has shifted. from Frontier Enterprise says a massive surge in e-commerce, which Visa predicts will reach “a staggering US$7.3 trillion by 2025,” has opened the door to “more sophisticated cybercriminal activities.” Thus the need for the improvements in , authentication and security that biometric passkeys offer. Visa says key features of its Visa Payment Passkey include reduced friction in the checkout experience, robust compliance and “a delicate balance between implementing robust fraud prevention measures and delivering an optimal customer experience.” Undergirding a lot of these seismic shifts is the , champions of passwordless authentication. FIDO Executive Director Andrew Shikiar offers his own view on 2025 in a from Finextra Research. While Shikiar notes that the has been dragging out for some fifteen years now, the emergence of passkeys means “we’re making great progress towards eliminating our dependence on passwords.” Shikiar says that while banks have been slow to adopt compared to the payments giants, he is “quite confident that in 2025 we’ll start to see some big brand banks across the world start to deploy passkeys to allow their users to sign in and access accounts without having to use a password.” | | | | | | | | |
Once cold and lonely, ‘snow management’ at Tahoe resorts goes high-tech with lasers
Pep Guardiola set for January transfer binge for first time in SEVEN YEARS as Man City identify two big-money targetsHyperconnected employees experiencing ‘dark side’ of digital workNone
Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning (14-9-3), while Jake Guentzel put away the game winner on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks (14-8-4), who fell to 4-6-3 at home. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. OH CAPTAIN❗️ MY CAPTAIN❗️ Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenceman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2-for-4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning Canucks: Continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Lightning: Visit the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday.
DETROIT (AP) — The reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has dramatically improved, narrowing a wide gap with gas-powered automobiles, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports. But vehicles with internal combustion engines and gas-electric hybrids are still far more dependable, the survey found. Consumer Reports subscribers, who filled out surveys during much of 2024, reported that electric vehicles had 42% more problems than gas autos on average. But that was down from 79% more in the 2023 survey. The survey released Thursday measured reliability of vehicles mainly from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years. Plug-ins, which travel a short distance on battery power before a hybrid powertrain kicks in, had 70% more problems than gas vehicles, but that was less than half the difference found in last year’s survey. The reason for the improvement? EV and plug-in technology are maturing, said Jake Fisher, head of Consumer Reports’ automobile test center. “As the automakers get more experience with the new technologies and new platforms, they will improve,” Fisher said. He said he expects plug-in and electric vehicles to keep getting better, further closing the gap with gas vehicles. But one thing may stand in the way: Automakers often test new automation and other features on EVs, and the new stuff is prone to glitches. “Until we get to where an EV is just a car that does practical things with their own powertrain, I’m not sure they’ll ever catch up totally” to gas vehicles, Fisher said. The new technology may offer more than the next wave of EV buyers would like, as EVs move from early adopters to more practical mainstream buyers, Fisher said. “There are people who just want a car that’s easy to maintain,” he said. “I don’t use gas. I don’t need this automation feature and electric door handles or whatever the heck they are putting out.” Consumer Reports has noted that concerns about EV and plug-in quality add to issues that may have buyers hesitating before switching from gasoline engines, including concerns about higher up-front costs, too few charging stations and long charging times. Gas-electric hybrids, which switch from internal combustion to electric power to get better mileage, were about as reliable as cars with combustion engines. While the technology is pretty technical, it has been refined for a quarter century, mainly by pioneer Toyota, Fisher said. “CR’s tests have shown that they are often quieter, quicker and more pleasant to drive than their gasoline-only counterparts,” he said. Through September of this year, the last month for which all automakers have reported results, electric vehicle sales are up 7.2%, plug-in sales rose 11.6%, but hybrids led with a 32.6% increase, according to Motorintelligence.com. Consumer Reports said its 2024 survey of subscribers representing about 300,000 vehicle owners found that Subaru was the most reliable brand for the first time, followed by perennial top finishers Lexus and Toyota. Rounding out the top five were Honda and its Acura luxury brand. It was the first time since 2020 that neither Toyota nor its Lexus luxury brand were in the top spot, Fisher said. The highest-ranked brand from a U.S.-based automaker was General Motors’ Buick at No. 11. The five lowest of 22 brands that were ranked were electric upstart Rivian, followed by GM’s Cadillac luxury brand, GMC, Jeep and Volkswagen, Consumer Reports said. The magazine and website didn’t get enough data this year to rank Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Ram. Electric vehicle sales leader Tesla finished 17th, down three spots from last year’s survey. Subaru took first place in the survey by following the same formula that Toyota uses to get high reliability scores: It doesn’t make huge changes when updating or unveiling new vehicles, Fisher said. Instead of going with new engines or transmissions, Subaru carries parts over from the prior generation. “They don’t fix what’s not broken,” he said. “They continue to refine their products, and because the products perform quite well, they don’t have to have big changes.” Rivian, Fisher said, is a new company with new electric models that have more glitches. Since the company is a startup, it can’t use proven powertrains from prior generations yet. “It’s expected that you’re going to have issues when you have nothing to carry over” from previous model years, he said. The survey found that the gas-powered Toyota RAV4 small SUV was the most reliable vehicle, followed by the Toyota Corolla compact car. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid was third, followed by the RAV4 gas-electric hybrid, Fisher said. Consumer Reports’ survey of its subscriber base does not represent all vehicle purchasers in the U.S. or the population that bought specific vehicle types. The survey results were released at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association of Detroit.UrbanGeekz Unveils 2nd Annual UrbanGeekz 50 List Highlighting Leaders in Tech, Innovation and EntrepreneurshipNOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, BELARUS, HONG KONG, JAPAN, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE "IMPORTANT INFORMATION" AT THE END OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. The Board of Directors of Fingerprint Cards AB (“Fingerprints” or the “Company”) has resolved on a partially guaranteed issue of units consisting of new shares of series B (“B-shares”) and warrants entitling for subscription of B-shares (“Warrants”) (together “Units”) of up to approximately SEK 160 million with preferential rights for its existing shareholders, subject to subsequent approval from an extraordinary general meeting in the Company to be held on 17 January 2025 (the “Rights Issue”). The Rights Issue is subject to subscription undertakings and guarantee commitments in a total amount of up to SEK 115 million. To cover the Company’s liquidity needs during the period up until the completion of the Rights Issue, a consortium of external investors has provided the Company with a short-term loan of SEK 40 million (the “Bridge Loan”). The net proceeds from the Rights Issue are intended to be used to repay the Bridge Loan (including interest and set-up fee) and general corporate purposes. Such general corporate purposes include, inter alia, funding the transformation plan, including the continued wind down of the Chinese operations, and the group’s ongoing operations during the continued implementation of the transformation plan as well as future growth initiatives. The extraordinary general meeting is to be held on 17 January 2025 and will be proposed to resolve on subsequent approval of the Board of Directors’ resolution on the Rights Issue, resolve on certain technical measures to facilitate the Rights Issue and resolve to amend the Company’s articles of association to increase the limits for the number of shares and number of shares of each class to enable the Rights Issue. A notice convening the extraordinary general meeting will be announced through a separate press release. Summary The Board of Directors of Fingerprints has today resolved on the Rights Issue of up to approximately SEK 160 million, of which the initial SEK 115 million is subject to subscription undertakings and guarantee commitments. The resolution is subject to subsequent approval by the extraordinary general meeting to be held on 17 January 2025. In connection with the Rights Issue, a consortium of external investors has provided the Company with the Bridge Loan in an amount of SEK 40 million in order to provide liquidity to the Company up until the completion of the Rights Issue. The repayment of the Bridge Loan (including interest and set-up fee) will be financed with part of the net proceeds from the Rights Issue. The final terms of the Rights Issue, including the maximum amount by which the Company’s share capital shall be increased with, the maximum number of Units (and thereby the maximum number of B-shares and Warrants) to be issued, the number of unit rights and the subscription price for each Unit and thereby the price per B-share (the Warrants will be issued free of charge), will be determined by the Board of Directors on or around 15 January 2025 (however not later than on 17 January 2025) and will be announced by way of press release. The subscription price in the Rights Issue will be determined by the Board of Directors at a customary discount, indicatively a discount to the theoretical ex-rights price (“TERP”) of approximately 35 percent (however not lower than SEK 0.01). Provided that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to approve the Rights Issue, resolves on certain technical measures to facilitate the Rights Issue and to amend the Company’s articles of association, the record date in the Rights Issue is expected to be on 24 January 2025. The subscription period runs from and including 28 January 2025, to and including 11 February 2025. Unit rights not utilized during the subscription period will become invalid and lose their value. Trading in unit rights is planned to take place on Nasdaq Stockholm from and including 28 January 2025, to and including 6 February 2025. Trading in paid subscribed Units (Sw. betalda tecknade units, “BTU”) is planned to take place on Nasdaq Stockholm from and including 28 January 2025 to and including 20 February 2025. It is expected that the Units will be structured with a ratio of 6:1 between B-shares and Warrants where, for example, for every six (6) new B-shares, one (1) Warrant will be included in a Unit. The Warrants will entitle the holder to subscribe for one (1) new B-share in the Company at a subscription price corresponding to 70 percent of the volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) for the Company’s B-share on Nasdaq Stockholm during the 10 trading days that occurs immediately prior to the exercise period for the Warrants, however not higher than the equivalent of 150 percent of the subscription price per B-share in the Rights Issue and not lower than the equivalent of (i) the quota value for the Company’s shares from time to time or (ii) SEK 0.01. The exercise period for the Warrants is expected to occur approximately 18 months following the Rights Issue. Following deduction of issue related costs, which is expected to amount to approximately SEK 28 million if the Rights Issue is fully subscribed, the net proceeds from the Rights Issue will amount to no more than SEK 132 million. The net proceeds from the Right Issue are intended to be used to repay the Bridge Loan (including interest and set-up fee) and general corporate purposes. Such general corporate purposes include, inter alia, funding the transformation plan, including the continued wind down of the Chinese operations, and the group’s ongoing operations during the continued implementation of the transformation plan as well as future growth initiatives. Background and rationale In line with Fingerprints’ communicated transformation plan and as announced by Fingerprints in its interim report for the period January–March 2024, the Company is exiting commoditized, low-margin markets to prioritize profitable growth segments. As part of this realignment, the Company is winding down its loss-making operations in the Mobile product group to promote its financial health and support future viability. In June 2024, Fingerprints entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with a biometric sensor solution provider, facilitating a more efficient wind down of the Mobile operations and inventory depletion. The PC market has similar dynamics to Mobile, with a China-centric and highly concentrated customer base that values low-cost product above all. With the lifecycle maturity of many models, Fingerprints has seen a rapid shift in orders partially driven by its position as a low-cap player. This has in turn driven customers to diversify their supplier base, further impacting Fingerprints’ market share – particularly as a smaller-cap company following the Mobile wind down. Securing new PC projects has proven to be both capital- and time-intensive, further underscoring the unsustainability of the product group. Against this backdrop, Fingerprints is winding down the PC product group to achieve further cost reductions and exit the Chinese market entirely. Cost reductions are pivotal in Fingerprints’ transformation efforts and includes the Company’s outsourced manufacturing model and increased operational efficiency. Further, within the first nine months of 2024 the Company lowered its workforce by over 40 percent, primarily driven by the ongoing transition out of Mobile and PC. In addition, and as part of the significant cost optimization programme, the Company successfully restructured its balance sheet during 2024 by redeeming the convertible bonds to ensure operational efficiency. The Company will continue to implement cost reduction measures, such as the wind down of the PC product group, with the aim to reach a recurring annualized OPEX of less than SEK 70 million by the end of the second quarter 2025, underscoring the commitment to operational efficiency and disciplined resource allocation. In parallel with the above and to further execute the new strategy, Fingerprints is continuing its focus on the core biometric business whilst expanding to digital identity, a core component of human-digital interactions. Fingerprints is committed to, through future partnerships, building a robust digital identity platform to help its customers address the myriad of cyber-risks and poor user experience arising from passwords. As the Company continues the phase-out of the Mobile and PC product groups, Fingerprints is also strategically reallocating capital toward high-margin, high-growth segments in digital identity through the Access and Payment product groups. Additionally, the Company explores new business product group partnerships, including within iris technology, to leverage Fingerprints extensive experience and competence. As the Company carves out its digital identity and secure authentication specialty, it is transitioning from a component supplier to an integrated biometric solutions provider of software-centric offerings which enables higher-margin opportunities. Thus, Fingerprints believe that it is well-positioned for sustainable growth and long-term value creation. Moreover, the Company is continuously having discussions with potential strategic partners in relation to the updated product positioning to further leverage Fingerprints extensive technological expertise and innovation capabilities, including in respect of Access, Payment and Iris, with an aim to unlock additional growth capital and enhance value creation. Although the transformation plan as a whole is designed to ensure sustained profitable growth and ongoing cost optimization will keep Fingerprints lean and agile, the ongoing process of executing the transformation plan has led to short-term revenue fluctuations. Against this background and given the group’s overall operational performance, the Board of Directors has carefully evaluated the possibilities for the Company to ensure a necessary capital injection in order not to jeopardize the completion of the transformation plan and in turn the survival of Fingerprints, as well as to support future growth initiatives. In this evaluation, the Board of Directors took into account scale and need of a necessary capital injection, and believed that the Rights Issue together with the Bridge Loan (as defined above) is the only way for Fingerprints to confidently enable the completion of the transformation plan and in turn achieve stability and stronger prospects for the future for the group. Following deduction of issue related costs, which is expected to amount to approximately SEK 28 million if the Rights Issue is fully subscribed, the net proceeds of the Rights Issue will amount to no more than SEK 132 million and is intended to be used for the following purposes: (i) fully repay the Bridge Loan (including interest and set-up fee) (SEK 43 million) and (ii) general corporate purposes (SEK 89 million). Such general corporate purposes include, inter alia, funding the transformation plan, including the continued wind down of the Chinese operations, and the group’s ongoing operations during the continued implementation of the transformation plan and future growth initiatives. Assuming that the Company achieves its expected sales volumes and continues to successfully implement its previously outlined transformation plan, the anticipated net proceeds from the Rights Issue is expected to fund the Company for twelve months subsequent to the execution of the Rights Issue and until the Company reaches cash-flow positive. However, it may be necessary for the Company to seek additional funding in the next twelve months, for example, if the Company falls short of its expected sales volumes or encounters difficulties in executing its communicated transformation plan. The Rights Issue Shareholders who are entered in the Company’s share register on the record date, expected to be 24 January 2025, will have the right to subscribe for Units with preferential rights in the Rights Issue. Subscription of Units may also take place without preferential rights. Each Unit will consist of a specified number of B-shares and Warrants. The Warrants will be issued free of charge. It is expected that the Units will be structured with a ratio of 6:1 between B-shares and Warrants where, for example, for every six (6) new B-shares, one (1) Warrant will be included in a Unit. The Warrants will entitle the holder to subscribe for one (1) new B-share in the Company at a subscription price corresponding to 70 percent of the VWAP for the Company’s B-share on Nasdaq Stockholm during the 10 trading days that occurs immediately prior to the exercise period for the Warrants, however not higher than the equivalent of 150 percent of the subscription price per B-share in the Rights Issue and not lower than the equivalent of (i) the quota value for the Company’s shares from time to time or (ii) SEK 0.01. The exercise period for the Warrants is expected to occur approximately 18 months following the Rights Issue. The final terms for the Rights Issue, including the maximum amount by which the Company’s share capital shall be increased with, the maximum number of Units (and thereby the maximum number of B-shares and Warrants) to be issued, the number of unit rights and the subscription price for each Unit and thereby the price per B-share (the Warrants will be issued free of charge), are expected to be announced on or around 15 January 2025 (however not later than on 17 January 2025). The subscription price in the Rights Issue will be determined by the Board of Directors at a customary discount, indicatively a discount to the TERP of approximately 35 percent (however not lower than SEK 0.01). The subscription period is expected to run from 28 January 2025 up to and including 11 February 2025. Trading in unit rights that entitles to subscription of Units is expected to take place on Nasdaq Stockholm from 28 January 2025 up to and including 6 February 2025, and trading in BTU’s is expected to take place from 28 January 2025 up to and including 20 February 2025. Both unit rights and BTU’s will be subject to time-limited trading on Nasdaq Stockholm. The new B-shares and Warrants to be issued through the issue of Units are expected to be admitted to trading on Nasdaq Stockholm, upon application, in connection with the conversion of BTU to B-shares and Warrants. Subscription undertakings and guarantee commitments The Rights Issue is covered by subscription undertakings and guarantee commitments in an aggregate amount of up to SEK 115 million. The subscription undertakings have been made by existing shareholders, board members and management team, including Juan Vallejo, Christian Lagerling, Adam Philpott and Fredrik Hedlund, amounting to SEK 0.7 million. Moreover, certain external investors, such as Wilhelm Risberg and Fredrik Lundgren, have entered into guarantee commitments in an aggregate amount of up to SEK 114.3 million. No guarantee commitment covers the subscription of and payment for Units in the Rights Issue in excess of SEK 115 million. A guarantee commission will be paid for the guarantee commitments, whereby commission is paid with ten (10) percent of the guaranteed amount in cash. No fee will be paid in respect of the subscription undertakings. Neither the subscription undertakings nor the guarantee commitments are secured through bank guarantees, restricted funds, pledged assets or similar arrangements. Further information regarding the parties that have entered into the subscription undertakings and guarantee commitments will be included in the prospectus which is intended to be published on or around 23 January 2025. The Company considers that it carries out protection-worthy activities under the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Act (Sw. lagen (2023:560) om granskning av utländska direktinvesteringar) (the “Swedish FDI Act”). Consequently, an investment in Units (and thereby B-shares) in the Rights Issue (other than by exercising preferential rights) which result in an investor acquiring a shareholding corresponding to or exceeding a threshold of ten (10) percent or more of the total number of votes in the Company following the completion of the Rights Issue, must prior to the investment be filed with the Inspectorate of Strategic Products and, if applicable, any other equivalent body pursuant to legislation in any other jurisdiction, and cannot be carried out before the Inspectorate of Strategic Products and, if applicable, another equivalent body in another jurisdiction has decided to take no action or authorize the investment (“FDI Decision”). As a result, the guarantee commitments are, in respect of any Units that would require a prior FDI Decision (“FDI Units”), conditional upon that relevant guarantors obtains such prior FDI Decision. In the event that any guarantee commitment will require the subscription and payment of FDI Units, there will be a separate and longer subscription and payment period in respect of such FDI Units which may last up until 13 June 2025. If required FDI Decisions has not been obtained at the end of such separate subscription period for FDI Units, the relevant guarantor’s guarantee commitment will lapse and relevant FDI Units will in such case not be covered by any guarantee commitment. The Bridge Loan In order to provide the Company with liquidity up until the completion of the Rights Issue, a consortium of external investors have provided the Company with the Bridge Loan of SEK 40 million. Disbursed amounts under the Bridge Loan carries interest of 1.50 percent for each commenced thirty-day period and a set-up fee of 4.00 percent. The first part of the Bridge Loan amounts to SEK 15 million (“Tranche 1”) and will be provided the Company following the announcement of the Rights Issue, the second part of the Bridge Loan amounts to SEK 25 million (“Tranche 2”) and will be provided to the Company following the extraordinary general meeting resolving on the Rights Issue and certain technical measures to facilitate the Rights Issue and to amend the Company’s articles of association. The Bridge Loan will fall due in connection with the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the Rights Issue, however not later than 31 March 2025. The Bridge Loan is subject to certain event of default grounds, including that the extraordinary general meeting in the Company does not approve the Board of Directors’ resolution on the Rights Issue, as well as other customary event of default grounds. Extraordinary general meeting and voting undertaking The extraordinary general meeting will be held on 17 January 2025 and it will be proposed to resolve on subsequent approval of the Board of Directors’ resolution on the Rights Issue as well as be proposed to amend the articles of association of the Company to increase the maximum limits for the number of shares and number of shares of each class. In addition, the extraordinary general meeting will, for the purpose of reducing the quota value of the shares to facilitate the Rights Issue, be proposed to resolve on a reduction of the Company’s share capital, and simultaneously resolve that the Company’s share capital shall be increased by the reduction amount by way of a bonus issue. A notice convening the extraordinary general meeting will be published today through a separate press release. One of the Company’s largest shareholder together with board members and management who have entered into subscription commitments have made irrevocable undertakings to vote in favor of the proposals at the extraordinary general meeting. Preliminary timetable 15 January 2025: Expected date for announcing the final terms in the Rights Issue 17 January 2025: Extraordinary general meeting 22 January 2025: Last day of trading in shares including right to receive unit rights 23 January 2025: Estimated date for publication of the prospectus 23 January 2025: First day of trading in shares excluding right to receive unit rights 24 January 2025: Record date for participation in the Rights Issue 28 January – 11 February 2025: Trading in unit rights 28 January – 6 February 2025: Subscription period 28 January – 20 February 2025: Trading in paid subscribed Units (BTU) 12 February 2025: Estimated date for announcement of the outcome in the Rights Issue Prospectus A prospectus regarding the Rights Issue is intended to be published on or around 23 January 2025 on Fingerprints’ website, www.fingerprints.com and on Carnegie Investment Bank AB’s (publ) website, www.carnegie.se . Advisors Fingerprints has engaged Penser by Carnegie, Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ), as financial advisor and Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå KB as legal advisor in connection with the Rights Issue. For information, please contact: Adam Philpott, CEO Investor Relations: +46(0)10-172 00 10 investrel@fingerprints.com Press: +46(0)10-172 00 20 press@fingerprints.com This is the type of information that Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) is obligated to disclose pursuant to the EU’s Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on 17 December 2024 at 7:45 pm CET. Important information This press release does not contain and does not constitute an offer to acquire, subscribe or otherwise trade in units, warrants, shares, unit rights, subscription rights, BTU, BTA, convertibles or other securities in Fingerprints. The offer to relevant persons regarding the subscription of shares and warrants in Fingerprints (though units) will only be made through the prospectus that Fingerprints will publish on its website after approval and registration with the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen). The information in this press release may not be disclosed, published or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions), Australia, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore or South Africa or any other jurisdiction where distribution or publication would be illegal or require registration or other measures than those that follow from Swedish law. Actions that violate these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. No units, warrants, shares, unit rights, subscription rights, BTU, BTA, convertibles or other securities have been registered, and no units, warrants, shares, unit rights, subscription rights, BTU, BTA, convertibles or other securities will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 as currently amended (“Securities Act”) or the securities legislation of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and no units, warrants, shares, unit rights, subscription rights, BTU, BTA, convertibles or other securities may be offered, sold, or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, within or into the United States, except under an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities legislation in the relevant state or any other jurisdiction of the United States. In all EEA Member States (“EEA”), other than Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, this press release is intended for and is directed only to qualified investors in the relevant Member State as defined in the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (together with associated delegated regulations and implementing regulations, the “Prospectus Regulation”), i.e. only to those investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State. In the United Kingdom, this press release is directed and communicated only to persons who are qualified investors as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (as incorporated into domestic law in the United Kingdom) who are (i) persons who fall within the definition of “professional investors” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (“the Regulation”), or (ii) persons covered by Article 49(2)(a) - (d) in the Regulation, or (iii) persons to whom the information may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above are collectively referred to as “Relevant Persons”). Securities in the Company are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will only be processed in respect of Relevant Persons. Persons who are not Relevant Persons should not act based on or rely on the information contained in this press release. The Company considers that it carries out protection-worthy activities under the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Act (the “Swedish FDI Act”) (Sw. lag (2023:560) om granskning av utländska direktinvesteringar). According to the Swedish FDI Act, the Company must inform presumptive investors that the Company’s activities may fall under the regulation and that the investment may be subject to mandatory filing. If an investment is subject to mandatory filing, it must prior to its completion, be filed with the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (the “ISP”). An investment may be subject to mandatory filing if i) the investor, a member of the investor’s ownership structure or a person on whose behalf the investor is acting would, after the completion of the investment, hold votes in the Company equal to, or exceeding any of the thresholds of 10, 20, 30, 50, 65 or 90 percent of the total number of votes in the Company, ii) the investor would, as a result of the investment, acquire the Company, and the investor, a member of the investor’s ownership structure or a person on whose behalf the investor is acting, would, directly or indirectly, hold 10 percent or more of the total number of votes in the Company, or iii) the investor, a member of the investor’s ownership structure or a person on whose behalf the investor is acting, would acquire, as a result of the investment, direct or indirect influence on the management of the Company. The investor may be imposed an administrative sanction charge if a mandatory filing investment is carried out before the ISP either i) decided to leave the notification without action or ii) authorised the investment. Each shareholder should consult an independent legal adviser on the possible application of the Swedish FDI Act in relation to the Rights Issue for the individual shareholder. This announcement does not constitute an investment recommendation. The price and value of securities and any income from them can go down as well as up and you could lose your entire investment. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Information in this announcement cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Forward-looking statements Matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements are all statements that are not historical facts and contain expressions such as “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “will", “may”, “continues”, “should” and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on various assumptions, which in several cases are based on additional assumptions. Although Fingerprints believes these assumptions were reasonable when made, such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other material factors that are difficult or impossible to predict and beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and material factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this communication through the forward-looking statements. The information, perceptions and forward-looking statements contained in press release speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Fingerprints undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other circumstances, except for when it is required by law or other regulations. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Information to distributors Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended (“MiFID II”); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the “MiFID II Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the shares in Fingerprints have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the “Target Market Assessment”). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Distributors should note that: the price of the shares in Fingerprints may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the shares in Fingerprints offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the shares in Fingerprints is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Rights Issue. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the shares in Fingerprints. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the shares in Fingerprints and determining appropriate distribution channels. About Fingerprints Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints) – the world’s leading biometrics company, with its roots in Sweden. We believe in a secure and seamless universe, where you are the key to everything. Our solutions are found in hundreds of millions of devices and applications, and are used billions of times every day, providing safe and convenient identification and authentication with a human touch. For more information visit our website , read our blog , and follow us on X . Fingerprints is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (FING B). Attachment 241217 - Fingerprints rights issue
2 Reasons to Buy British American Tobacco Stock at the End of 2024 and 2 Reasons to Avoid It for Now
NA passes NA Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2024 NA also passes Nippon Institute of Advanced Sciences Act, 2024 ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday passed the NA Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the National Assembly Secretariat Employees Act, 2018. The bill was moved by Syed Naveed Qamar as private member bill. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazir Tarar said according to the bill, appointments for positions up to grade 15 in the NA secretariat would be made through advertisements to ensure merit-based hiring and appointments would be conducted through Public Service Commission. The NA also passed the Nippon Institute of Advanced Sciences Act, 2024. As many as eleven bills were laid in the NA and referred to the committees concerned by the chair for further consideration. The bills introduced include the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Protection of Rights of Regularized Civil Servants and Employees Bill, the Westminster University of Emerging Sciences and Technologies, Islamabad Bill, 2024, the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, (Section 498AA), the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024, (Section 54A), the Corrosive Substances Assault (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2024, the Climate Accountability Bill, 2024, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024,(Amendment of Schedule II), the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2024. Asiya Naz Tanoli, however, later withdrew the Drug Testing in Educational Institutions Bill, 2024.